Android setStreamVolume to ZERO doesn't work in Android 4

Question

I noticed that under Android 4.x setting ring volume to 0 is not possible. If I execute this code and then I go to Settings--> Sound --> Volumes I can see it is set to 1. I

audiomanager.setStreamVolume(AudioManager.STREAM_RING, 0, 0);

Do you know why? I know I could use audiomanager.setRingerMode(RINGER_MODE_SILENT) but annoys me!! because in this case I would have to "remember" if vibration is on or off for activating again sound.

Of course, all this works in other Android versions.

Answer 1

Don't use setStreamMute() as it has weird side-effects with the lifecycle of your process. See the docs:

The mute command is protected against client process death: if a process with an active mute request on a stream dies, this stream will be unmuted automatically.

I'm afraid setRingerMode() with either RINGER_SILENT or RINGER_VIBRATE is the way to go, which will have the effect of zero-ing out the stream volume